Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are 'a danger' to King Charles as he recovers from surgery

This has been a highly unfortunate start to the year for the Royal Family. The announcement that the Princess of Wales underwent “planned abdominal surgery” and would take some weeks to recover, was instantly followed by the news that King Charles would be undergoing an operation for an enlarged prostrate.

Prince William did not undertake royal engagements whilst Catherine is in hospital and during her early convalescence, he will be with her as much as possible.

It is also unique that both the King and Catherine were in the same hospital, the London Clinic, at the same time. However, the statement from the Palace, which shared the details of the King’s condition, has led to greatly increased public awareness of it.This example of how useful a royal intervention will almost certainly save lives.

This news was a severe shock. It has also finally buried the impractical idea of a “slimmed down” monarchy, which was associated with the King. Princess Anne, in a television interview, rightly criticised it.

The Palace is conducting a review of royal patronages. In the past senior royals took on hundreds, the Waleses have far fewer, though they do more for those they take on.

It is sobering to reflect that a decade ago the royals carried out 4,000 engagements but last year it was only 2,270. Only four working royals are under 70 and the declining charitable reach of the Royal Family will considerably affect the strength of their brand.

The most potent use of soft power is a royal visit and the plans for the coming months will obviously have to change. The Waleses visit to Italy in the spring will undoubtedly have to be postponed and the King’s travel plans, which include Canada, may as well.

It was high time that the number of Counsellors of State, who can act in the King’s incapacity or absence abroad, was increased and this has now been done. Harry, Andrew and Beatrice remain on the list but, since they are not working royals, they will not be called upon in any circumstances.

King Charles knows that he has to be above party politics. He sees himself as a convenor, his work on environmental matters and inter-faith issues are examples of this. He has shown a unique ability to bring prominent world figures together to lobby for causes he believes in.

With the war in Ukraine soon entering its third year, the conflagration in the Middle East and problems in the Gulf, the international situation is extremely serious and the “peace dividend”, which the West benefited from so substantially after the Cold War ended, seems a mirage today.

Charles is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, an example, not just of the power he has, but of the power he denies to others, which is so significant in our democracy. We also know how important Queen Camilla, whose father was a decorated war hero, regards the military.

In his “black spider” memos to government ministers that became public in 2015, Charles complained that the armed forces were in Iraq “without the necessary resources” and inadequately equipped to perform their “extremely challenging” duties.

This is, unfortunately, the view of many service chiefs, past and present, at the moment. The first priority of any government is unquestionably the defence of the realm. It is to be hoped the King will express strong views privately at the hollowing out of Britain’s armed forces.

He is known to have privately compared President Putin, who has so brutally violated Ukraine’s sovereignty, to Hitler a decade ago and will be fully cognisant of the danger. There is universal agreement that the world has become more dangerous, but not on what to do about it and here the King, who has seen service in the RAF and the Royal Navy, could undoubtedly make a valuable contribution.

We face a general election in the next year during a cost of living crisis. It seems unlikely that the cost of the monarchy will feature as an issue, its core price of 77p per person per year, excluding security, is surely excellent value.

The King is currently based at Clarence House while Buckingham Palace is being renovated. He is known to be something of a workaholic, following his operation he will be forced to slow down, at least for a month.

He has his “non-negotiable” soulmate, Queen Camilla by his side who is carrying on with her engagements. Their trips abroad will include the 2024 CHOGM in October in Samoa, when a visit to the Antipodes is also likely.

It does seem a republic in Jamaica is probable as it is supported by both the main political parties but it needs a referendum to become law. The decision of Harry and Meghan to appear at a premiere in Kingston and pose with politicians driving the republican agenda was calculating in the extreme.

They are unpredictable, their popularity is low, they do not appear to be doing anything of substance, yet they still attract vast worldwide media attention. They remain a danger to the monarchy, as they simply cannot be trusted.

Andrew remains a serious problem too, at 63, he is in limbo. More details have emerged of his links with the deceased paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and these have caused the royal family yet more embarrassment. He lives in the 30-room Royal Lodge with his former wife Sarah Ferguson. As he has a long lease, if he can afford the repairs and the cost of security, he can stay there. He should do work for the royal family on their estates, as he clearly has no other future.

The nation’s good wishes go to the King and to Catherine, as, having both left hospital on the same day, they recuperate.

Richard Fitzwilliams is a royal commentator, film critic and public relations consultant who has given over 1,400 television interviews and many on radio. He was Editor of The International Who’s Who, the standard work of its type, from 1975 to 2001.